Ashland economic-development staff report active recruitment and 17 new downtown offices expected

Eden McKenzie, the city’s economic development presenter, briefed the Ashland Board of City Commissioners on March 11, saying the department is pursuing business retention and active recruitment while continuing to market industrial sites.

McKenzie said a business retention and expansion survey has been open for about a week and will remain available for another week, after which staff will compile results. She said recruitment interest remains strong across quick-service restaurants, light manufacturing and healthcare, and that the city is working closely with state and regional partners, site selectors and property owners to position Ashland competitively.

McKenzie told the board the city expects roughly 17 new professional offices to be occupied downtown soon, a change she said would increase daytime activity and support surrounding businesses. She also described ongoing marketing of the privately owned coke plant site and thanked Cleveland-Cliffs for cooperating with recruitment efforts while noting the site remains privately owned.

On funding, McKenzie said staff are pursuing grants to strengthen infrastructure — a top priority on requests for information from prospects — and that improving site readiness is a near-term focus.

When asked whether remediation for the coke plant had been turned over to the state, McKenzie deferred to her director, Chris Pollm, saying that Pollm typically participates in those calls and she did not have a definitive answer.

The presentation closed with the commission thanking McKenzie and no formal votes on the update itself; staff will continue outreach and report back as projects advance.